Return of Djidji Ayôkwé Talking Drum to Côte d’Ivoire Hailed as a Victory Over Historical Injustice

Edited By : Tendai Zola

More than a century after it was taken by colonial France, the Djidji Ayôkwé talking drum — a sacred and symbolic object of the Atchan community in Côte d’Ivoire — is finally on its way home. On Monday, July 7, the French National Assembly passed a law authorizing the official restitution of this cultural treasure, marking a historic step in the broader movement to return African heritage artifacts looted during colonial rule.

The Djidji Ayôkwé, once used as a means of communication among the Atchan people, has long been stored at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. Its return is not only symbolic but also emotional, representing a broader reckoning with colonial history and a reaffirmation of cultural identity.

“This is an act of justice, and a victory over oblivion,” said Silvie Memel Kassi, former director of the Museum of Civilizations of Côte d’Ivoire and the government expert in charge of cultural restitution at the Ivorian Ministry of Culture. Speaking to Afrique Midi, she emphasized the deep spiritual and historical meaning of the drum to the Atchan people, for whom it was a central tool of governance, ritual, and memory.

The process of restitution has been years in the making, driven by growing pressure on France to acknowledge and repair its colonial-era appropriations. The return of the drum follows a broader shift in French policy, as President Emmanuel Macron previously pledged to facilitate the return of African artifacts housed in French institutions.

In Abidjan, preparations are already underway to welcome the drum with dignity. The Atchan community, who reside primarily in the Ebrié Lagoon region, sees this moment as a long-awaited homecoming.

Côte d’Ivoire joins other African nations — including Benin and Senegal — in seeing the physical return of cultural objects as an essential component of restoring dignity and cultural continuity after decades of dispossession.